Reminder: Don't criticize people's spelling or grammar
@littlefranciscan (18327)
United States
July 13, 2007 5:42am CST
This is a reminder, which I am sure most mylotters know.
IT is a violation to start a topic that ridicules or finds fault with peoples spelling or grammar.
Here is mylot's exact wording: under the don'ts:
Dont: "Post discussions, responses or comments criticizing members for bad/broken English or bad spelling. Everyone is welcome at myLot, we have users from all around the world and they are welcome regardless of their proficiency with the English Language"
You find this as the 3rd to last "dont do" on this link in mylot's guidelines:
http://www.mylot.com/o/guidelines.aspx
Although I am American and usually write correct grammar and have close to accurate spelling; it really irks me that people find fault with misspelling or incorrect grammar here.
4 people like this
7 responses
@urbandekay (18278)
•
14 Jul 07
Well, of course anyone for whom English in not their first language may have difficulties and should not be criticised. But I do feel it is then incumbent on the native English speakers here to take care in their writing, so to set a good example, which will help those learning. Sadly though, it is often native speakers that are careless of lack the competency in English. Not meaning to be critical but even you omitted two required apostrophes from your post.
English learners, ‘Don’t’ should be apostrophised.
All the best urban.
2 people like this
@littlefranciscan (18327)
• United States
14 Jul 07
Despite the un-easiness it may cause us; here on mylot, it's against their guidelines to criticize. No matter what reason we may have, we simply cannot do it here. I am sure there are other forus where such manners of corrections are allowed.
1 person likes this
@urbandekay (18278)
•
14 Jul 07
I'm not advocating grammatical criticism but merely reminding native English speakers of the importance of setting a good example.
all the best urban
2 people like this
@ESKARENA1 (18261)
•
14 Jul 07
I agree with mylot on this one, we need to work againsty the instinct of some to correct others. Who are we to correct anyone? doest it show an incredible amount of arrogance?
1 person likes this
@ESKARENA1 (18261)
•
14 Jul 07
iM eNGLISH AND MY ANCESTERS GAVE OUR LANGUAGE TO THE WORLD. i AM ALSO DYSLEXIC AND LIKE YOU GET REALLY ANOYED when people ask why i can niether write or spell correctly nor indeed use grammar in its classic sense. My stock reply is that people with that kind of thinking took power in Germany in the 1930s and it didnt turn out well. I really do think tyranny does take many forms, one of these is the tyranny of litteracy
blessed be
1 person likes this
@littlefranciscan (18327)
• United States
14 Jul 07
I agree eskarena. Everyone is at a different level in learning abilities. For someone to say that you can't post because your postings are not accurate would simply be prejudice and unfair.
@ESKARENA1 (18261)
•
14 Jul 07
no no no not a link between compitency and Nazi ism but a link between the need for us to correct incompitencem in a public forum and nazi ism is pretty clear
1 person likes this
@urbandekay (18278)
•
14 Jul 07
I'm also English and Dyslexic but the idea that there is a connection between competency in grammar and Nazism is absurd. You might as well say that there is a connection between a competent use of tools and Nazism
all the best urban
1 person likes this
@eaforeman6 (8979)
• United States
14 Jul 07
Sometimes people like me who have to be on constant antihistamines have vision problems because of it....I have to use special eye drops for allergies...so please excuse my typos because sometimes I just dont catch them.....and please remember that others may have site and vision problems even though like me they do have college educations....great post
@littlefranciscan (18327)
• United States
15 Jul 07
I agree eaforeman. Certain medication blurr our eyes. And many times; I come here late in the evening on weekdays..because I work all day...and my eyes can be blurred from fatigue.
Who wants to come to a forum or discussion board and bring with them a grammar book and dictionary.
Unless, however, our visitors from other countries opt to bring a dictionary..that is admirable..but not necessary.
I love mylot for the reason that we don't have to worry about grammar or spelling. We can unwind, laugh, discuss and be ourselves.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
4 Sep 07
What do you do when you cannot understand their question because their English is not that good? I do not want someone to be misunderstood. Maybe if they are having trouble, they could ask "how do you write=====" and ask us to give examples. I am sure there are some out there who were unable to get an answer to their question because of this.
@littlefranciscan (18327)
• United States
13 Jul 07
Well, sometimes people take mylot like some university and start correcting errors or making little of one who misspells.
Not everyone, even English born, is gifted with ability to spell.
@2wicelot (2945)
•
14 Jul 07
It is actually not nice. A lot of people here are from countries that do not primarily speak English, yet they do their best to communicate. I think we should applaud their efforts. The thing is most times we are able to understand the message they are trying to pass across so I think that should be enough.
Then there is the lack of edit button. Many times we may just respond and only realise the mistake after we have posted the response and there is no way to go back and fix it. So I think no one should be criticized or ridiculed for any mistakes or errors here.
@littlefranciscan (18327)
• United States
14 Jul 07
I think that you are right. Besides, when people are communicating in real life. I wonder how many worry about the grammar.? Not too many. I applaud all the nations that are represented here and mylot for allowing so many to take part in one big forum.
1 person likes this
@littlefranciscan (18327)
• United States
14 Jul 07
Glad you agree. It's international. Imagine if we went to a spanish or german or chinese forum and, using a dictionary, tried to talk.
1 person likes this
@SViswan (12051)
• India
4 Sep 07
I feel the main idea behind myLot is to convey your ideas. It's a forum for discussions. As long as one is able to communicate what one thinks, I guess it's okay. Some of the people on myLot are here to brush up their English. So, I feel there's no harm in helping such people without ridiculing them. But only when they ask for it.
Before one critizes other members, they should remember that they could possibly be at the receiving end tomorrow.
